Question of the Week

Q: Some quality people write about "gage." Others use the spelling "gauge." Which is correct? Is there a standard definition?

A: The Quality Improvement Glossary offers these definitions:

Gauge: Mostly obsolete spelling of “gage” in the United States. Gage is the spelling in common usage in U.S. industry and by gage makers in their sales catalogs. "Gauge" is still used when referring to sheet metal thickness, wire size, and shotgun-bore size.

Gage: Any device used to obtain measurements.

ASQ has published a great deal of information about gages and gaging. Here's a guided Knowledge Center Search to get you started perusing our archives.

Meanwhile, here are a few choice articles to start:

Improve Gage R&R Results
by Merwan Mehta and Paul Kauffmann
Six Sigma Forum Magazine, August 2006
Logged-in members/subscribers: Instant Access.
Or you can buy a PDF.

Measure for Measure: Improved Gage R&R Measurement Studies
by Donald Ermer
Quality Progress, March 2006
Open Access

Gauge R&R Studies for Destructive Measurement
by Jeroen De Mast and Albert Trip
Journal of Quality Technology, January 2005
Logged-in members and subscribers: Instant Access.
Or you can buy a PDF.